Drunk man drives tractor after Argentina's victory, crashes into seven vehicles

A man in Concordia, Argentina, drove a front-end loader through the streets, crashing into seven vehicles in a drunken rampage following Argentina's 2-0 World Cup victory over Austria.

The 47-year-old driver, a former employee of a private company that owned the machinery, had a blood alcohol level of 1.71 grams per liter. He navigated the loader erratically through the city, impacting two trucks on Presidente Illia street and five other vehicles on Paula Albarracín de Sarmiento and Presbítero del Castillo streets. Videos circulating online show the loader swerving dangerously, narrowly missing a motorcyclist.

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Last night I was working late trying to bring peace of mind, mostly to the people, and with great concern because I wanted to know if there were any accident victims. Thank God there are no serious or minor injuries. That gives me a lot of peace of mind.

Police eventually stopped the aggressive driver on Gregoria Pérez street, reportedly pointing shotguns at him to ensure his compliance. The local prosecutor, Josefina Mondragón, charged him with "resisting authority and injuries."

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The machine is insured and in case the insurance does not take responsibility, which usually happens, the company will take responsibility.

Ricardo Gómez, the owner of the company that owned the front-end loader, confirmed that the firm would cover all damages. He expressed relief that no one was seriously injured during the incident. "Thank God there are no serious or minor injuries. That gives me a lot of peace of mind," Gómez stated. He added that the machine is insured, but the company would take responsibility if the insurance did not cover the costs. The driver had worked for the company for years but had recently resigned, receiving occasional "changa" (odd jobs).

The incident occurred on June 23, 2026, shortly after Argentina's World Cup match. While the victory sparked celebrations, the driver's actions led to significant property damage, though fortunately, no severe injuries were reported.

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He was an operator for many years. He had resigned and we were giving him some odd jobs because the situation was complicated.